UK retail sales fall in April as measured by the total volume of goods bought. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reports that retail sales volumes drop by 1.3% in April, marking the sharpest fall for almost a year, according to multiple outlets. The ONS measure focuses on the quantity purchased rather than prices. Some coverage links the decline to higher costs for consumers, including soaring fuel prices, which can affect spending across retail categories as shoppers cut back. Across the reports, the main agreed figures and timing are the same: a 1.3% month-on-month fall in April in the ONS retail sales volume series. The articles do not present differing numbers, but they emphasize the context differently—one aspect highlighted is that fuel price pressures are part of the backdrop for reduced consumer purchases. Overall, the reporting centers on the ONS data showing a significant contraction in retail buying volume and frames it as a notable deterioration versus recent months.